Has been an avid follower of deeply interested in e. Kunal Bhalla. The culture, masculinity, 10. You area senior civil servant in the Ministry of Informatio old daughter, an intelligent and sensitive student of Class popular influencers and motivational speakers. Recently. she becam a popular podcast show hosted by a well-known social media figure show claims to champion “free thinking” and covers topics like hustle personal transformation, and anti-institutional narratives. Over time, your daughter’s behaviour begins to change. She withdraws fro as interests, begins idolising internet influencers, and adopts rigid opinions about fe: ‘ failure, and mental health. She starts rejecting family advice, refuses to a. it Sr board preparatory exams, and argues that “school is irrelevant in the age of free min is: Concemed, you and your spouse try to reason with her, but she accuses you of being “closed-minded.” Matters come to head when you are alerted by your ministry’s media monitoring cell about a viral video clip where your daughter is seen giving an interview on a fringe podcast platform, endorsing radical views on education, politics. and civil services. The clip drew public attention because of your designation, and journalists began speculating about a “generational rebellion” within the bureaucracy. m academic Meanwhile, the influencer, Kunal Bhalla, publicly praises your daughter as “the new voice of youth dissent, ” but refuses to take accountability for his platform’s role in shaping her worldview. Social media is split, some defend her right to free thought. while others accuse Such influencers of normalising disrespect for institutions and romanticizing shallow intellectualism. Your colleagues advice silence, but your daughter now wants to drop out | of school and intern with a podcast network. (a) What are the key ethical issues involved in the Way “free thinking” is promoted by influencers on social media, especially for impressionable youth? (b) What should be the role of public figures in responding to the misuse or distortion of influential platforms in the name of free expression? (c) Suggest a policy framework or guidelines for Tesponsible mfluencer content aimed at youth without curbing intellectual freedom.

Topper: M Venkatesh Prasad Sagar · AIR 358 · 2025 · Page 46